FRUITLOOPERY is, Feedback has proposed, most readily detected by the uncalled-for use of the word 鈥渜uantum鈥� (10 June 2006 et seq). Don Jewett proposes a more subtle detector that can spot fractional fruitloopery, no less.
鈥淔or example,鈥� he writes, 鈥渢he first five letters of 鈥榪uantitative easing鈥� are the first five letters of 鈥榪uantum鈥�, giving a detection-coefficient of 5/7. The fruitloopery of 鈥榪uantitative easing鈥� in the fiscal sphere involves much spin, but perhaps it falls short of being fully quantal.鈥�
We鈥檒l happily endorse a fractional fruitloopery index, especially one that applies to quantitative easing. But we feel the need for a further, underlying scale of measurement 鈥� a universal crackpot standard, in fact.
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One such has been proposed by the physicist John Baez. At , he starts by giving every potential crackpot a five-point starting credit, proceeds to add five points for every word of their theses written in CAPITAL LETTERS and continues through a total of 37 indicators. These include 鈥�40 points for claiming that the 鈥榮cientific establishment鈥� is engaged in a 鈥榗onspiracy鈥� to prevent your work from gaining its well-deserved fame鈥� and 鈥�40 points for comparing yourself to Galileo, suggesting that a modern-day Inquisition is hard at work on your case鈥�.
This index, presented in 1998, has proved its worth over time, but now, as Michael Ludgate informs us, it has a challenger in the Quackometer developed by Andy Lewis (see ). This observes that: 鈥淪everal people have noted how quack websites use similar language and vocabulary and once you can spot the patterns, spotting quackery is easy. Quack words include 鈥榚nergy鈥�, 鈥榟olistic鈥�, 鈥榲ibrations鈥�, 鈥榤agnetic healing鈥�, 鈥榪uantum鈥�. These words are usually borrowed from physics and used to promote dubious health claims.鈥�
The site proposes an SI unit, the canard, to express quackery. You simply feed in a website鈥檚 URL and the quackometer goes through its pages and assigns it an appropriate number of canards. We are happy to report that gets 0/10 canards 鈥� despite our generous helping of quantums, and indeed vibrations 鈥� while quantumhomeopathy.co.uk gets a well-deserved 10/10. Could this be the universal index we have been seeking all these years?
鈥淚n the lobby of the Sea Tac Holiday Inn near Seattle airport, Richard Shield tells us, there is a sign saying 鈥淪huttle leaves every half hour on the hour鈥�
THE tea room in the Caulfield School of Information Technology, part of Monash University in Victoria, Australia, has a fine collection of higher degree theses. They are, Tom Peachey tells us, all in pristine condition and locked behind glass. All pristine, that is, except one that has paper damage and some paint dripped on the spine. Its title is: 鈥淪ome Conservation Problems of Higher Degree Theses in Victorian University Libraries鈥�. Tom wonders if any Feedback readers know of similarly self-referential theses.
LAST month we mentioned Oxo stock cubes in the context of the note on the plastic wrapping of subscribers鈥� copies of New 杏吧原创 saying that it is 鈥淥xo degradable鈥� (3 April). Now Lynne Moffat informs us that she has just bought a pack of Oxo cubes for her kitchen and finds that they are 鈥淪ame weight, NEW shaped cube!鈥�
Not only that. Dominic Houghton notes that they are 鈥溾��. He and Lynne both wonder if Oxo has pioneered a new development in geometry.
AFTER reading our report on Morning Chicness Bags, those must-have fashion accessories for vomiting expectant mothers (17 March), Jack Wretch felt he had to buy some for a relative who is 鈥渨orking to add to the world鈥檚 population鈥�. He says that 鈥渙n going to I was, being somewhat parsimonious, disappointed to find that 鈥楤uy new鈥� was the only purchase option鈥�.
Keeping your brain warm in winter
BROWSING through a catalogue from electronics specialist Maplin, Peter Duffell came across an item that is described as a 鈥溾��.
This promises to 鈥渒eep you warm during those winter months鈥� by means of a battery-powered heater 鈥減laced between ears area鈥�.
In that case, says Peter, 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 it be better described as a 鈥榖rain heater鈥� 鈥�? He goes on to suggest it could be ideal for people with plenty of empty space in that particular location.
Cell phones and rat killer link
HERE is another strange recommendation courtesy of Amazon鈥檚 algorithms (10 January 2009). Apparently, as the online retailer told Tim Stevenson, a popular trend among purchasers of Motorola V3 phones is to buy, in addition, a Pest-Stop Electronic Rat Killer along with a Batman: Arkham Asylum game for the PS3.
FINALLY, Allen Lutins was provoked by our report on the 鈥渓ess fat鈥� claims of Fry鈥檚 Turkish Delight (6 March) into sending us a scan of a U-Turn energy bar packet featuring the claim: 鈥�125 per cent less fat than the leading chocolate candy brands鈥�. How do they work that one out?